Composing songs isn’t always something you can just throw together. Even the most well-known artists experience writer’s block, which usually requires them to give themselves some time before attempting to play the same chord progression on the guitar. George Harrison was certainly accustomed to taking his time throughout The Beatles’ career. However, he believed it would be nearly impossible to figure out the song “Your Love is Forever.”
To be sure, during the 1970s Harrison never voluntarily took on a track he wasn’t happy with. Unlike other musicians who appeared to be writing only to fulfill a contract, Harrison was eager to collaborate on any set of songs. He believed such collaborations would be beneficial for Apple Records.
On the album Dark Horse, he had some unpleasant moments when he expressed his emotions. However, on Thirty-Three and a Third, things began to go slightly in his favor. Although the song “Crackerbox Palace” had nothing to do with rock and roll in the end, it’s difficult to listen to it without smiling a lot. This is especially true when it’s such a catchy tune.
Why not give that light music another go if it seemed to work the first time? If Harrison was having fun with that album, then his self-titled release would be a more symbiotic representation of his spiritual side. Even though the majority of people prefer to recall hits like “Blow Away” or the Beatles sequel “Here Comes the Moon,” “Your Love Is Forever” might be one of the greatest love songs he has ever made.
Though Harrison admits in “I Me Mine” that “it was difficult for me to write the words because sometimes when I get a tune first,” he struggled with determining the direction of the lyrics. It didn’t come without a fight. However, in this instance, I wanted the lyrics to be meaningful and well-written because I thought the song was good.
Harrison was using an open guitar tuning that he was unfamiliar with, which probably made things more difficult. He had previously attempted to play songs like “Dear One” using those unusual tunings. However, it’s nearly impossible to get any tune out of an instrument that isn’t tuned normally. It’s like trying to learn how to ride a bike backward. You have your hands tied in such a scenario.
Nevertheless, Harrison composed a song that was on par with “Something,” one of his greatest works. The song extends the message of “My Sweet Lord,” highlighting his enduring spiritual bond with his creator. This contrasts sharply with the previous track, which focused on the woman who has captivated his heart completely.
No one could expect Harrison to care, even though at the time, that kind of attitude might have turned off some people. Why not dedicate the rest of his life to sharing this spiritual gift he had discovered? He had at last found some salvation through his music.
